Friday Photographs

"Let there be space in your togetherness. Let the winds of the heavens dance between you." 

Kahlil Gibran

Radical Acceptance

A few months ago my sister in law posted two words as her Facebook status- “radical acceptance.”  I had heard the phrase “radical hospitality” but not “radical acceptance.”  I was very intrigued by the statement and began pondering what this means for me as a Child of God.  Radical acceptance has a different connotation as well as additional implications for Christians.  

In order to better understand for myself the idea of radical acceptance I decided to use my trusty computer dictionary to look up the definition of each word.  According to the dictionary when something is radical it is “characterized by departure from tradition [and is] innovative or progressive.”  The idea here is that there is a change in the fundamental nature of what is being described as radical.  Acceptance is defined as “the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group.”  Radical acceptance can be viewed as a fundamental change that is innovative or progressive in the nature of the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable in to a specific group.

As Christians we are called into radical acceptance.  We are called to be transformational in our thoughts and actions.  We are called to transform the way our culture views the concept of acceptance.  Jesus was perfect embodiment of radical acceptance. Jesus healed those were the culture viewed as not healable.  He ate meals with sinners.  He touched those who the culture said were impure.  He loved those who were not lovable.  Jesus’ full acceptance of those in society who were considered unacceptable is epitomizes radical acceptance.  

How do we as Children of God embody radical acceptance in todays culture?  Our culture tells us to accept only those who are like us and agree with us.  It tells us to accept others only if it will benefit the group the way WE want it to.  It tells us to accept the status quo.  If we as Christians want to embody radical acceptance we must do as Jesus did.  We must seek out those who our culture deems unacceptable.  We must see them through God’s lens and see them as the perfectly spiritual beings they truly are!  When we are able to see them in this way we can then accept them as Children God.  They will become an essential member of our family or faith community.  Remember God calls us to embody radical acceptance everyday!

In what ways can you embody radical acceptance?  In what ways can our congregations embody radical acceptance?

It Takes a Village: Mentoring

I recently watched KARE 11‘s special “Be the Change: Mentor”.  They stated that “mentoring is one of the most successful means of improving the lives of young people in [ones] community.”  They also noted that “the statistics say it all-mentored students are less likely to skip classes, use illegal drugs and drink alcohol at a young age. They also perform better in school and are more socially aware.”  In other words mentoring works! The stories of the relationship that are built because of mentoring were inspiring and touching.  

This television program made me wonder mentoring ministries for children and youth are not more prevalent in our congregations.  The saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child!”  It takes the ENTIRE congregation to raise a child.  We affirm this commitment every time a child is baptized.  At its core mentoring is about building relationships.  Christianity is relationally based.  God created us to be in relationship God and with one another.  This said it seems to me mentoring ministries with children and youth is a natural fit for congregations.

Not only is it a natural fit, it is my belief that congregations could greatly benefit from mentoring ministries.  Mentoring ministries with children and youth must focus on building healthy Christian relationships.  These relationships are intended to foster intentional faith-nurturing relationships between children/youth and faithful adults who are available, authentic, and affirming.  Our children and youth thrive when they have adults in their lives who are available, authentic and affirming.  If congregations can encourage and affirm these relationships with in the faith community the community and individuals will greatly benefit. 

What would our congregations look like if we took mentoring children and youth seriously?  Would we see more of our youth continue to attend church?  Would our children see and experience life in a faith community differently?

(More on what this type of ministry might look like and how it might affect congregations in future posts.)